The business end of the prep football playoffs starts this weekend with quarterfinals in the 6A-4A classifications and the semifinals in the 3A, 2A, 1A and 8-player classifications.

Roy and Box Elder host 5A quarterfinals this Friday with chances for elusive state semifinal appearances. Davis hits the road for a rematch at Lehi in the 6A quarterfinals, while Morgan and Layton Christian play their respective semifinals in 3A and 2A on Saturday in Herriman.

Last week’s prediction record: 11-1 (.917)

Season prediction record: 126-33 (.792)

Alta at Roy, 6 p.m.

There aren’t many hotter teams in the playoffs right now than No. 3 Roy (9-2), which has won six straight games by a combined scoring margin of 236-73.

That’s put the Royals in a chance to get back to the state semifinals for the first time since 2018 and only the second time since winning the state title in 1981.

No. 11 Alta survived a quadruple-overtime, 36-34 win at West last week to get to the quarterfinals. The Hawks’ defense has 83 tackles for loss, 45 sacks and has forced 31 turnovers. On the flip side, their sophomore quarterback Kepa Niumeitolu has 17 touchdown passes against just four picks.

Roy needs a turnover or two on defense — it has 20 interceptions with eight for Jake Viers alone — and a near-perfect game on offense.

Prediction: Alta

Olympus at Box Elder, 3 p.m.

Broadcast on KJZZ

On offense, No. 5 Olympus (7-3) throws it well and throws it to a handful of receivers and backs. The Titans don’t jump out on paper or on film, but their defense strings stops together and they’re the definition of a solid team overall.

And their three losses are by 1, 1 and 4 points.

Expect Olympus, like most No. 4 Box Elder (9-2) opponents, to stack the box on defense to slow down the inside run game. The common theme in Olympus’ three losses this year is teams ran all over the Titans.

Like last week, it’s crucial the Bees attack somewhere other than the middle of the defense. They went to Damon Rodriguez a lot against Maple Mountain, though he got hit hard a ton and left the game multiple times.

Of the six all-time meetings between Box Elder and Olympus, five have come in the playoffs and Olympus holds a 3-2 advantage in the postseason meetings.

The Bees have consecutive nine-win seasons and state quarterfinal appearances for the first time since 2000-01. Their last state semifinal appearance was in 2006.

Prediction: Box Elder

Davis at Lehi, 5 p.m.

No. 6 Davis (10-1) is going for its first appearance in a state semifinal since 2009. The Darts have lost four straight quarterfinals since then by an average of 21.5 points.

They visit a No. 3 Lehi (9-2) team that’s the two-time defending 5A state champion and a mainstay in the later rounds of the playoffs the last six seasons.

The two teams met in the Aug. 11 season opener and the Pioneers won 28-14 by holding Davis to 1 rushing yard and intercepting Darts sophomore quarterback Tradon Bessinger three times. Bessinger since then has had an outstanding season that saw him named Region 1 co-offensive player of the year.

Both teams are better since that game, but Lehi has gone through the Region 3 gauntlet of American Fork, Pleasant Grove, Skyridge and Lone Peak.

Prediction: Lehi

Bountiful at Springville, 5 p.m.

No. 10 Bountiful (8-4) and No. 2 Springville (9-2) have met each of the last four seasons, with the Red Devils winning three of those games by 1, 6 and 9 points.

The Redhawks are looking for their first semifinal appearance since 2019, while Springville has been to four semis since 2015.

Low scoring is normally the name of the game between these two, but this year’s 5A quarterfinal meeting may have medium-scoring potential.

Bountiful averages 32 points per game on offense, its best mark since the 2001 season when it finished with 32.1 per game. Two playoff wins by a combined score of 93-7 help with that, as does an offense that’s found a good balance between running and throwing.

Springville runs about 74% of the time from various I-formation and Pistol looks, mostly behind running back Tevita Valeti (1,610 yards, 6.4 yards per carry, 27 TD). Run-heavy teams have put up good numbers against Bountiful this season, but haven’t always won.

The Red Devils’ other calling card is a defense that allows just 12.1 points per game.

Prediction: Springville

Morgan vs. Manti, 7 p.m. (Sat.)

At Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman

In this 3A semifinal on artificial turf at a soccer stadium, No. 3 Morgan’s (8-3) main defensive assignment is No. 2 Manti (9-2) quarterback Maison Starkweather, who has 3,465 passing yards, 43 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

The Trojans have to pressure Starkweather — he’s rarely been sacked — because he has 1,000-yard receivers Hunter Stevens (1,238 yards, 15 TD) and Reggie Frischknecht (1,164 yards, 17 TD) to throw to.

The Templars’ defense has 58 tackles for loss, 32.5 sacks, 24 takeaways and very few teams have effectively run the ball against Manti.

Teams have effectively thrown against the Templars, and that’s where one of Morgan’s offensive strengths lies. The Trojans’ offensive numbers might not be eye-popping, but that’s because their defense gives the offense a fair share of short fields.

If this game comes down to kicking, Morgan’s got the advantage there with senior Beau Johnson’s 21 career made field goals and 157 made extra points.

Prediction: Morgan

Layton Christian vs. South Summit, 1 p.m. (Sat.)

At Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman

The two top teams in the 2A North region meet again in Saturday’s 2A semifinal. No. 2 South Summit (9-2) beat No. 3 Layton Christian (6-4) 28-21 on Sept. 15 with a go-ahead, fourth-quarter touchdown.

The difference in that game was South Summit ran 60 offensive plays to LCA’s 48, and the Wildcats had 10 sacks to the Eagles’ two.

Otherwise, the yardage and turnover battle were similar.

The main battle this week is if LCA’s running game can roll against a South Summit defense that scant few have run well against, thanks in part to a good defensive line.

LCA sophomore Trevor Halalilo has 1,093 rushing yards and dual-threat quarterback Marcus Miles has 3,070 total yards between passing and rushing.

Another big battle is discipline and avoiding penalties, which has been a strength for South Summit this year but not as much for LCA.

Prediction: South Summit

Connect with reporter Patrick Carr via email at pcarr@standard.net, Twitter @patrickcarr_ and Instagram @standardexaminersports.

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